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Valdosta State University Core curriculum

60 SEMESTER HOURS REQUIRED

Area A1 - Communication

Learning Goals:

  • Students will communicate effectively in writing by using appropriate conventions of correctness, style, tone, and organization and by adapting writing to audience and context.
  • Students will find, evaluate, and make inferences from a variety of sources and incorporate this information accurately, correctly, and effectively into their written work.
    In Area A1, students must take the six hour composition sequence below:
ENGL 1101/1101H
ENGL 1102/1102H

Area A2 - Quantitative

Learning Goal:        

  • Students will demonstrate mathematical proficiency by analyzing a variety of functions and solving various equations.

In Area A2, students will select one 3 hours math course from the following:

* MATH 1113/1113H (or higher) is required of all students majoring in (or intending to transfer within the University System of Georgia with a major in) architecture, astronomy, biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, technology, geology, geography (B.S.), forestry, pharmacy, mathematics, physical therapy, physics, or secondary education (biology, chemistry, mathematics, or physics). Math 2261 (or higher) is required of all students intending to transfer within the University System with a major in engineering.

 

Area B - Perspectives (4 hours)

Learning Goal:

  • Students will demonstrate knowledge of global and regional perspectives in areas such as the arts, humanities, sciences, and social sciences.

 

Area B is satisfied by completing two different courses from the eight different areas in Perspectives.

1. Perspectives on Ethics/Values (2100s)
2. Perspectives on Tradition and Change (2200s)
3. Perspectives on Human Expression (2300s)
4. Perspectives on the Environment/Physical World (2400s)
5. Perspectives on Race/Gender (2500s)
6. Perspectives on Cross-Cultural Understanding/Expression (2600s)
7. Perspectives on the World of Work (2700s)

 

Area C - Humanities/Fine Arts (6 hours)

Learning Goal:

  • Students will analyze, evaluate, and interpret diverse forms of human communication.

     

    Area C is satisfied by completing one world literature course from the following:

One course from the following, or any of the world literature courses not taken in the required column:

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FREN, GRMN, JAPN, LATN, RUSS, or SPAN 1001*
FREN, GRMN, JAPN, LATN, RUSS, or SPAN 1002
FREN, GRMN, JAPN, LATN, RUSS, or SPAN 2001
FREN, GRMN, JAPN, LATN, RUSS, or SPAN 2002

*Students who elect to continue the study of their high school foreign language in order to meet requirements for the major may not take the 1101 course in that same language for credit. They should begin their foreign language requirement with 1102.

 

Area D - Natural Science, Math, and Technology

Learning Goal:

  • Students will demonstrate understanding of the physical universe and the nature of science, and they will use scientific methods and/or mathematical reasoning and concepts to solve problems.

 

D. 1. - 11 hours

Any two lab sciences courses from the following (8 hours):

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   

Any one course from the following:

   
   
   
   
   

D. 2. a. - 11 hours (Required of majors in astronomy, biology, chemistry computer science, environmental geosciences, mathematics, physics, secondary biology education, secondary chemistry education, secondary mathematics education, secondary physics education, and all students in the pre-engineering program).

Two lab science courses from the following:
   

Three hours of mathematics above the level taken in Area A. For biology majors:

For all other science or mathematics majors:

* The additional hour of calculus (MATH 2261 or 2262) counts in Area F of the major.

 

D. 2. b. 11 hours (Required of nursing majors)

Two semester laboratory sequences :

One course from the following:

 

Area E - Social Sciences (12 hours)

Learning Goal:

  • Students will demonstrate knowledge of diversity in individual and social behavior, the structure and processes of the United States government, and the importance of historical changes over time.

 

Required: POLS 1101 or POLS 1101H.

One required American history course from the following:

Any two courses from the following:

   
   
   
   
   
     

 

Area F - Courses appropriate to the major (18 hours)

* Requirements vary according to the major program. See the requirements for Area F in the departmental section of your major in the college catalogue.

Additional Learning Goals for the Core Curriculum

Students must also meet three additional learning goals in VSU’s core curriculum:

LEARNING GOAL 1: US PERSPECTIVES

  • Students will demonstrate an understanding of the United States and its cultural, economic, political, and social development.

*Courses to Meet US Goal: HIST 2111, HIST 2111H, HIST 2112, or HIST 2112H (Required in Area E)

LEARNING GOAL 2: GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES

  • Students will demonstrate an understanding of the cultural, religious, or social dimensions of societies around the world.

*Courses to Meet GL Goal: ENGL 2110, ENGL 2110H, ENGL 2120, ENGL 2120H, ENGL 2130, or ENGL 2130H (Required in Area C)

LEARNING GOAL 3: CRITICAL THINKING

  • Students will identify, evaluate, and apply appropriate models, concepts, or principles to issues, and they will produce viable solutions or make relevant inferences.

*Courses to Meet CT Goal: ENGL 1101, ENGL 1101H, ENGL 1102, or ENGL 1102H and MATH 1101, MATH 1111, MATH 1113, MATH 1113H, MATH 2261, MATH 2261H, MATH 2262 (Required in Area A)